Players - Robert Crawford

Robert Crawford
Birthdate: 4 July 1886
Birthplace: Blythswood, Scotland
Date of death: 1950
Other clubs: Arthurlie (1905-09)
Signed from: Arthurlie
Signed for LFC: 20.01.1909
Liverpool debut: 13.02.1909
Last appearance: 28.11.1914
Debut goal: 04.10.1913
Last goal: 04.10.1913
Contract expiry: 1915
Win ratio: 40.87% W:47 D:24 L:44
League games / goals: 109 / 1
Total games / goals: 115 / 1

Player Profile

"Mr. Tom Watson, secretary to the Liverpool Club, arranged in Glasgow yesterday for the transfer of Robert Crawford," reported the Manchester Courier on 21 January 1909 and added: "The new man, who is twenty two years of age, can play either right or left back, stands 5 ft. 8 ½in., and weighs 11 st. He has figured with considerable success in Second Division Scottish League matches this season, and should prove an acquisition to Liverpool." Crawford made his debut in a 4-1 home win over Leicester City on 13 February 1909 and played in the following 5-0 defeat against Arsenal. Crawford returned six weeks later against Everton when Liverpool lost 5-0 again, hardly inspiring confidence in the defenders in question. Crawford survived and made four more appearances before the end of that season when Liverpool narrowly escaped relegation. The highest total of games he played in a single campaign was 33 in the 1910/11 season. Left-back Tom Chorlton lost his place in the team following Liverpool's terrible start to that season and Crawford, who had played the first three games as right-back was moved to the left and newcomer Ephraim Longworth became first-choice right-back. He was so described in the Evening Express on 15 October 1910: "Although weighing less than ten stone, Robert Smith Crawford is a capable back, and he makes up for the deficiency in weight by resource and cleverness. A player of the Jock Maconnachie type, great things were expected from this light-weight, but he has not had too many opportunities. He kicks with plenty of power, and can tackle with the best."

Crawford shared left-back duties with Bob Pursell for the next couple of seasons but only played 13 games in the 1913/14 and 1914/15 seasons. As with so many players World War I put a definite end to his career. Crawford was discharged 1919 from the Royal Engineers with War and Victory medals and became a plumber.
Appearances per season
Season League FA LC Europe Other Total
Totals 109 6 0 0 0 115
1908-1909 7 0 0 0 0 7
1909-1910 20 0 0 0 0 20
1910-1911 31 2 0 0 0 33
1911-1912 15 0 0 0 0 15
1912-1913 23 4 0 0 0 27
1913-1914 7 0 0 0 0 7
1914-1915 6 0 0 0 0 6
A more detailed look at the player's appearances
Apps Minutes Opponent
10 900 Newcastle United
8 720 Everton
8 720 Tottenham
7 630 Middlesbrough
6 540 Bury
6 540 Notts County
6 540 Arsenal
6 540 Sheffield Wednesday
5 450 Bradford City
5 450 Preston North End
5 450 Bristol City
5 450 Bolton Wanderers
5 450 Aston Villa
5 450 Manchester United
4 360 Oldham Athletic
4 360 Sunderland
4 360 WBA
3 270 Sheffield United
3 270 Manchester City
3 270 Blackburn Rovers
2 180 Nottingham Forest
2 180 Chelsea
1 90 Leicester City
1 90 Burnley
1 90 Gainsborough Trinity
Total Venue
60 Away
55 Home
Total Competition
109 League
6 FA Cup
Total W D L Win % Manager
115 47 24 44 40.9% Tom Watson
Goals per season
Season League FA LC Europe Other Total
Totals 1 0 0 0 0 1
1908-1909 0 0 0 0 0 0
1909-1910 0 0 0 0 0 0
1910-1911 0 0 0 0 0 0
1911-1912 0 0 0 0 0 0
1912-1913 0 0 0 0 0 0
1913-1914 1 0 0 0 0 1
1914-1915 0 0 0 0 0 0
A more detailed look at the player's goalscoring
Total Opponent
1 Sheffield Wednesday
Total Competition
1 League
Total Goal origin
1 Penalty
Milestone Appearances
# Date Against Stadium Competition
1 13.02.1909 Leicester Fosse Anfield League
50 27.02.1911 Newcastle United Anfield League
100 15.03.1913 Middlesbrough Anfield League
Milestone Goals
# Minute Date Against Stadium Competition
1 0 04.10.1913 The Wednesday Owlerton League